The Liguus of Cuba, adjacent Keys
and Isle of Pines

This is a photo and information page for the Liguus vittatus ssp. of Cuba.
The listed subspecies do not all have available photos at the moment, they will
have verified photos if I can find specimens to photograph. Some
may have been synonymized or have become "nomen nudum".

Return to Cuban Liguus Taxonomy Listing

Discussion of the Liguus vittatus spp.

This Liguus is normally sinistral, however dextral specimens are found within the colonies
and are not as rare as are typical sinistral specimens of normally dextral snails.The locality
of the vittatus is at the far eastern end of the island on and near Cabo Cruz.

Liguus vittatus vittatus Swainson 1822
Type locality: No locality noted
Holotype: Whereabouts not known
Description: Swainson, 1822, Zoological Illustrations, 2, text, plate 84 (middle fig.)

The key morphological characters cited by Miguel. L. Jaume,1952 in his descriptions of
subspecies of vittatus are briefly noted below in black type (translated from Castellano);

Liguus vittatus vasquezi Jaume 1952 - Sympatric with the typical form,
it is an albino phase of Liguus vittatus.
Type locality: Ensenada de Mora, Province of Oriente, Cuba.
Holotype: Collection M.L. Jaume, MBM 24,300
Description: Jaume, 1952, Circulares del Museo y Biblioteca de Malacologia de la Habana,
Nuevas Formas de Liguus de Cuba, p 513.

Liguus vittatus thapsinus Jaume 1952 - Sympatric with the typical form,
it is a xanthic phase of Liguus vittatus. A white shell, white columella and apex,
with a wide pale yellow band on the last whorl.
Type locality: Ensenada de Mora, Province of Oriente, Cuba.
Holotype: Collection M.L. Jaume, MBM 24,301
Description: Jaume, 1952, Circulares del Museo y Biblioteca de Malacologia de la Habana,
Nuevas Formas de Liguus de Cuba, p 514.

Liguus vittatus porphyreus Jaume 1952 - Sympatric with the typical form,
the color of the apex, columella and aperture is the same as the typical form of vittatus.
The body color is a light ivory with pale chesnut sutural bands as opposed to the typical
form having more yellow in the body and dark chesnut sutural bands.
Type locality: Ensenada de Mora, Province of Oriente, Cuba.
Holotype: Collection M.L. Jaume, MBM 24,303
Description: Jaume, 1952, Circulares del Museo y Biblioteca de Malacologia de la Habana,
Nuevas Formas de Liguus de Cuba, p 514/515.

An opinion: These subspecies are color variations within the colonies and population
of the Liguus vittatus. All of the types and paratypes of the subspecies were collected
by Juan Vasquez Orozco, a local amateur malacologist from Central Cabo Cruz
in Oriente Province and located near the population of the Liguus vittatus. I will
display photos of any specimens of the vittatus subspecies, presently in museum
collections, with valid data referencing these forms, if I find them.

A Request: If anyone knows the status and whereabout of the Dr. M.L. Jaume collection
or the Dr, Mario Sanchez Roig collection please let me know.

Return to Cuban Liguus Taxonomy Listing